In a significant move towards inclusivity in outdoor adventures, Quirky Campers, a unique British campervan hire service, has launched the UK’s first accessible family campervan for hire.
Named ‘Accessible Iris’, this campervan is designed to cater to families with children with disabilities, providing a comfortable and accessible space for them to enjoy their holidays.
There are currently 1.1 million children with disabilities in the UK, but until now, there were no accessible vehicles available for families to hire. This gap in the market was addressed by Jemima Alexander and Cody Selby, parents of two girls, one of whom is medically complex, has sensory impairments, and is a wheelchair user.
They designed Iris with a deep understanding of the accessibility issues families face when trying to take a holiday.
Iris is a five-berth campervan designed with meticulous attention to detail, always keeping the needs and comfort of the family and child in mind, as reported by Lifestyle Health Hub.
The campervan is equipped with wheelchair fixings and ramps, a spacious interior, height-adjustable beds, a large fridge with freezer space, and an electrical system that allows even people who use overnight oxygen and ventilation the ability to sleep off-grid under the stars.
David Ffrench, CEO, and co-founder of Quirky Campers, expressed his pride in welcoming Iris to the Quirky Campers family. He praised Cody and Jemima for their wonderful job in combining accessibility and comfort with high-quality finishes.
He also acknowledged the importance of holidays and outdoor activities for the positive mental and physical health of children and young people with disabilities.
Iris is located in Bristol, an ideal base for exploring the city and surrounding regions. It is a short drive from Wales and the Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons, Gower, and Pembrokeshire.
Nearer by, are the Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean, the Cotswolds, and the Mendips. Holidaymakers could also head south into Devon and Cornwall.
Quirky Campers was launched by husband and wife team, Lindsay and David Ffrench in 2010, starting with renting out their own campervan, Bella, while they were travelling in Kenya.
The family-owned business acts as an agent for a collection of friendly and like-minded campervan owners, each with a vehicle that they have lovingly created and want to share with the world.
The launch of Iris is a natural and important next step for Quirky Campers, which launched Diversify Vanlife UK in 2021, in partnership with Diversify Vanlife, based in the US.
This initiative has evolved into a diverse and inclusive community for individuals in the van life community to be heard and celebrated.
For more information on Accessible Iris, visit the Quirky Campers website at www.quirkycampers.com. To get a visual glimpse of Iris, you can watch this YouTube video titled “Accessible Iris – A campervan for disabled children and their families”.
The launch of Accessible Iris by Quirky Campers is a significant step towards inclusivity in outdoor adventures. It opens up the world of camping and outdoor holidays to families with children, with disabilities, providing them with a comfortable, accessible, and thoughtfully designed space to create memorable experiences.